Colonels wrap up successful spring

Even though spring practice is over, the preparation for Nicholls State University's football team's 2013 season is just beginning.

Teddy RenoisStaff Writer

Even though spring practice is over, the preparation for Nicholls State University's football team's 2013 season is just beginning.The Colonels put a wrap on spring practice with the annual Spring Game on Saturday at John L. Guidry Stadium. While no score was kept, the offense got into the end zone six times with the team competing in different down-and-distance situations during the 72-play scrimmage.Nicholls head football coach Charlie Stubbs said his team came out of spring relatively injury free and now the focus turns to the summer."First of all, we really accomplished a lot on both sides of the ball. Offensively, we made some plays, but I saw our defense respond and make some plays (during the scrimmage)," Stubbs said. "I think we came out of spring without any significant injuries. So, now it is time to focus on our academics, and then we need to have a great summer in our strength and conditioning."One thing the offense did accomplish in the scrimmage was executing big plays. Quarterback Beaux Hebert led the offense by completing 9-of-13 pass attempts for 212 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Hebert threw touchdowns passes of 54, 28 and 16 yards, and he and running back Marcus Washington executed a screen pass for 50 yards.The other quarterbacks, Tuskani Figaro, Hayden Cardiff and Dash Duncan, combined to go 7-of-18 with two interceptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns. Cardiff tossed a pair of 23-yard touchdowns pass in the scrimmage.Stubbs said all four quarterbacks did well, but he was pleased with how Hebert responded after having a poor performance in the first scrimmage."I was glad to see Beaux respond after the first scrimmage. He responded very well and that shows me he learns from his mistakes and moves forward," Stubbs said. "The young (quarterbacks) did well, but they got greedy at times. If they will stay with their reads, they wouldn't get in much trouble. I worked all four of them, and in August, that will not happen because you have to hone in on your top guys. Those guys did some good things, and I thought our receivers and tight ends made some good catches."Hebert said scoring on big plays gives the offense a boost of confidence going into summer workouts."That is exactly what we needed, big plays. I know I missed on a couple in the first scrimmage, but we made some big plays in this scrimmage. We had a deep post (route) for over 50 yards ,and we had a screen that almost went for a touchdown. Those are the plays we have to make if we are going to be a competitive team," he said. "The focus for everyone this summer is working hard and come together as team. Our mind-set is on the season. We open at Oregon, and everyone knows how good they are. We just have to worry about ourselves right now and the summer is to work hard and build camaraderie. In the summer is when you build team chemistry and that is where it all starts."Nicholls opens its 2013 season at Oregon on Aug. 31, and safety Jordan Hanberry said the summer will be critical in preparing to play the Ducks."We are going into the summer and that is all about getting bigger, stronger and faster. We will do our 7-on-7 work and conditioning and just keep getting better," Hanberry said. "I think we came out to play. We are just getting better every day. We knew we were going to make mistakes, but the thing is we got to learn from them, communicate and keep getting better."Coming off a second 1-10 season, Stubbs said having the players make a commitment to work out over the summer is critical in building chemistry and turning the program into a winner."We came out healthy and I think we took a step. We have some great signees coming to help, and we feel that our future is looking bright," Stubbs said. "I have met with a lot of the players and a lot have made a commitment to stay this summer. A lot will stay and work in the community or go to summer school or just attend our strength and conditioning program. I've been chipping away at it since I got here, but we have more and more players each summer staying here and working. I know it takes that kind of commitment if you want to have a winning program, and I am pleased with that."